Automatic gas shut-off



Jan. 7, 1930. H. J. MURRAY 1,742,213

AUTOMATIC GAS SHUT-OFF Filed Nov. 50,' 192e Patented Jan. 7,1930

UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE 'f HOWARD J. MURRAY, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO HENRY SIEBEN, OF

HADLEY, NEW 'YORK i AUTOMATIC GAS SHUT-OFF Applicationiled November 30, 1926. Serial No. 151,820.

The invention relates in general to a selfclosing shut-off` valve particularly of the type of valves commonly used in shutting E a gas or liquid flow to a building, and the invention relates to that type of such valves which are either manually actuated at will or automatically actuated by a rise of `temperature in the vicinity.

The primary object of the invention is to provide,` an extremely simplified form of valve construction which will possess all of the advantages inherent in known forms of such valves, such as positive actuation and firm seating of the valve, and at the same time to provide a commercially perfected structure in which the several operable parts are minimized in number, simplified and protected from accidental or unintentional l 3o link and to minimize the tension on the pull member, includingthe fusible link, while permitting a powerful spring actuation 'of `the valve in moving into closed position when tension is released on the pull member.V

`Various other objects and advantages of the invention will be in part obvious from an inspection of the accompanying drawings and in part will be more fully set forth in the following particular description of 4o one form of device embodying the invention,

and the invention also consists .in certain new and novel features of construction and combination `of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the drawings: A Fig. 1 is a-,combinedrview of a valve casting shown side elevation with parts bro ken away, of a remote control casing shown in vertical section and a connector between the casting and the casing, coacting to illus trate a preferred embodiment `of the inven-V Aanism containing compartment of 1 `ig.` 1;

and u Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional View thro-ugh the control casing and taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. y

In the accompanying drawing and referring particularlyto Fig. 1 there is disclosed two spaced apart units, one constituting a casting 10 containing a valve and an operating mechanism therefor and the other constituting a casing 11 constituting a remote control station. Referring to the casting 10 there is disclosed a valve containing compartment 12 and a valve operating mechanism containing compartment 13 separated from each other by a partition 111. Flow through the valve compartment is controlled by a self-closing valve 15 shown in open position and in `dotted lines in Fig. 1 and in full lines in Fig.` 2. The valve isadapted to be moved into closed position engaging the seat 16, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 to intercept the flow through the casting. It is understood that the parts thus far described are of somewhat conventional design and constitute part of a flow line through which gas or other fluids move as is indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1` e The valve is provided with a stem 17 which projects through the partition 14 and is intruded into the compartment 13. Secured to the outer end of the valve stem is a grooved pulley 18. Coiled on the portion of the stem between the pulley 18 and the wall 14 is a relatively powerful spring `19 one end of which is secured at 20 to the wall 14 and the other end is secured by means of pin 21 to the side of the pulley 18 and spaced inwardly from the periphery 22 of the pulley as is clearly indicated in Fig. 2. The spring is so disposed that whenreleased it moves the valve from the open position illustrated into firm closing engagement with its seat.

rlhe part of the casting 10 which forms the mechanism containing compartment 13 is provided on its upper side with a tubular extension, 23 provided with a plurality of air vents 24 to air cool the contents thereof. From this construction it is understood that the compartment 13 and its contents are removed from the presence of the flow passing the valve.

The valve is moved to open position and held in open position by a flexible pull member 25 one end portion 26 of which is secured to the periphery 22 of the pulley as by inturning the same as shown at 27 (Fig. 1). The parts are so disposed that when tension is released on the pull member as hereinafter described the flexible part 26 will be wound onto and into the groove forming the periphery of the pulley. Forming part of the pull member within the housing and air cooled extension 23 is a fusible link 28 disposed so as to be protected by the casting and at the same time disposed in the path of cooling air passing through the vents 211. The upper portion of the pull member beyond the fusible link passes through an opening 29 inthe end of the extension 23, extends between the units, is passed through an opening 30`in the bottom ofthe casing 11 and is disposed in position to be engaged by a locking or holding member 31 contained in the casing 11.

In order to minimize the constant tension on the pull member while holding the valve open, the end portion 26 isV secured to the pulley at a greater distance from the axis of rotation of the shaft 17 than the point 21 at which the spring' engages the pulley to rotate the shaft. In order further to minimize the tension on the fusible member, it is shown to be formed of two fusible wires 32'and 33 arranged abreast and secured at opposite ends respectively to the end portions of the flexible members by means of equalizing brackets 33 and 34. V

From this structure it is appreciated that the strain on the link as a whole is divided between the wires 32 and 33 and the equalizing brackets which are pivoted to the flexible ends tend to distribute the strains equally to the two wires'. lThe readily releasable locking means 31 comprises a boss 35 projecting from the rear wall 36 of the casing and forms the fixed element of a clutch. The boss is provided with bifurcatedV ears 37 between which is pivotally supported a cam 38 on pin 39. The cam constitutes the movable element of the clutch and is provided with a forwardly extending finger piece 40 by means of which the cam can be readily rotated to and from its clutching position. The flexible member is passed between the periphery of the cam and the forward face of the boss 35 and the partsare so positioned that when the finger piece 40 is in the position shown in Fig. 1, the cam is in firm holding engwement with the pull member and acts therethrough to hold the valve in the open position as shown in Fig. 1. In order to prevent the flexible member from slipping out of the cam clutch it is provided with av pull knob 1-1. The casing 11 is provided with a hinge cover 42 secured conventionally by a seal 43 and in other respects this control station is of conventional design.

In operation it will be understood that the setting of the valve is controlled from the remote station by opening the cover, pulling on the pull member with the locking device released, and when thevalve is in its fully opened position, the finger piece of the locking device is raised thus clutching Ythe pull member and holding the same under tension of the spring 19. Should it be desired to close the valve, the operator simply trips the locking device by lowering the finger piece from the position shown in Fig. 1 and the valve is automatically moved under tension of the spring into firm closing engagement 1n its seat. y

vl/hilo I have shown and described, and have pointed out in the annexed claims, certain novel features of my invention, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a casting provided with a valve containing compartment and a mechanism containing compartment,4 with a fluid tight separating partition therebetween, a valve mounted in the valve containing compartment, a valve stem secured to the valve and projecting therefrom through said partition and into the mechanism compartment, resilient means in the mechanism compartment engaging the projecting portion of the stem and tending to move the valve into closed position and means including a manually actuated member extending from an external point into the mechanism compartment engaging the valve stem and adapted to move the valve off its seat against the resistance of said resilient means.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a casting provided with a valve containing compartment and a mechanism containing compartment, with a fluid tight separating partition therebetween, a valve mounted in the valve containing compartment, a valve stem secured to the valve and projecting therefrom through said partition and into the mechanism compartment, resilient means in the mechanism compartment engaging the projecting portion of the stem and tending to move the valve into closed position and means including a manually actuated member extending from an external the valve oft its seat against the resistance of saidresilient means, and the portion of the manually actuated member Within the confines of the mechanism compartment including a fusible link.

3. A fluid flow controlling apparatus including a casing having Va mechanism containing compartment, a valve stem intruded into said compartment, means in said compartment tending to move said stem in one i direction manually actuated means operable from a point exterior of the casing and engaging said stem for moving the stem in the opposite direction, the portion of said means Within the compartment including a fusible link and said casing provided with air openings to permit the air cooling of the fuse in the chamber.

4C. In a device of the class described, the combination of a casing having a mechanism containing chamber, a valve in the casing provided with a valve stem intruded into said chamber, a pulley Wheel secured to the stem, a spring coiled about the stem and tending to move the valve onto its seat, a flexible valve holding member having an end engaging the pulley Wheel and means normally engaging said holding member in position so as to hold the valve ofi its seat, said member capable When released of being Wrapped on to the pulley Wheel under action of said spring when closing thevalve.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination of a valve provided With a valve stem mounted for rotary movement, a spring acting on the stem and tending to move the valve into closed position, means including a pull member acting on the valve stem to rotate the same into position to open the valve and a readily releasable holding means engaging the pull member at a point remote from the `valve to secure the valve in open position against the tension of said sprino.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination of a valve provided With a stem mounted for rotary movement, a spring having one end secured to the stem relatively close to the axis of rot-ation of the stem and act' ing thereon With a short, powerful leverage effect and adapted to rotate the stem and thus close the valve onto its seat, a pull member having one end secured to the stem at a greater distance from the axis of rotation of the stem and adapted to act thereon with a longer leverage effect, and remote holding means for engaging the pull member in securing the valve in open position and against the tension of the closing spring.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination of a valve provided With a stem mounted for rotary movement, a spring having one end secured to the stem relatively close to the axis of rotation of the stem and acting thereon with a short, powerful leverage effect and adapted to rotate the stem and thus close the valve onto its seat, a pull member having one end secured to the stem at a greater distance from the axis of rotation of the stem and acting thereon with a longer leverage effect, said pull member including within its length a fusible link, and remote holding means for engaging the pull mem-v ber in securing the valve in open position and against the tension of' the closing spring.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination of a casting provided with a valve containing compartment and a mechanism containing compartment, a valve in the first named compartment tor controlling the flow therethrough, and a valve closing means in the second compartment exposed for air cooling, a control casing spaced `from the said casting, locking means housed Within the control casing, a flexible connector extending between the casting and the casing With one end secured to the valve closing means andadapted to act thereon to move the valveinto open position, and the other end engaged by said. locking means and acting normally to lock the valve in open position.

9. `In la device of the class described, the combination of a casting provided with a valve compartment and a mechanism contain ing compartment, a valve in t-he valve compartment for controlling the flow therethrough, means acting on the valve and tending to move the same towards its seat, a pull member normally under tension extending from a remote control pointinto the mechanism containing compartment for holding the valve off its" seat, the portion of the pull member Within said mechanism containing compartment including a. fusible linlc' housed Within and protected bythe casting and removed from the path ofthe flow past the valve.

Signed at New York in the county of New York and State of New York this fifth day of November, A. D. 1926.

HOWARD J. MURRAY. 

